Rifle is still fighting to finish in the top three in the Western Slope, which would send them to the regional playoffs that start around May 5.

"They actually lost to Palisade (Tuesday)," said Sailors coach Jim Dudley. "So, this is kind of a must win for them. We would love to put them in their place."

The Sailors enter the contest with a nine-game winning streak. They are ranked No. 7 in the 4A Class with an 11-1-1 overall record.

Steamboat has two regular-season games remaining before it competes in a regional playoff game against the fourth-place team from the Tri-Valley/Northern League, which is the Skyline Falcons (6-6-0) at the moment.

The regional game will be played at home, and will likely fall on the same day as the high school prom, which is May 5.

Steamboat's game against Rifle will be a rematch from a March 31 contest at Rifle, in which the Sailors upended the Bears, 1-0.

Steamboat's Kelly Asbury will sit out Thursday's game with a strained hip flexor she suffered against Battle Mountain last Thursday. The junior goalkeeper is expected to be back for the playoffs.